Long awaited endorsement expected today in New Hampshire
WASHINGTON – Every word from the campaigns for Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, was well crafted and not too excitable. The two sides announced in coordinated statements that they will campaign together Tuesday in Portsmouth, N.H.
“On Tuesday, July 12, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders will join Hillary Clinton for a campaign event at Portsmouth High School to discuss their commitment to building an America that is stronger together and an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top,” said the statement released by both campaigns.
The phrasing is significant, in that it references both Clinton’s general-election campaign slogan, “Stronger Together,” and the animating issue and the heart of Sanders primary bid — income inequality.
The question remaining is how enthusiastically does Sanders endorse Clinton? He has said that he will work very hard to make sure that the presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump. But we don’t know how much he will embrace Clinton or will his campaigning against Trump be enough to help her become the president.
There is no doubt that Clinton needs the Sanders energy and most of all his voters to back her if she is to win in November. If Sanders shows the same type of support as Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass), and President Barack Obama, then the Democrats can breath a little easier.
It has been 27 days since the last contest in the Democratic primary, and Sanders has held off from making an endorsement, though he has inched closer over the past couple of weeks.
Key issues that Sanders pushed for were addressed over the weekend at the Democratic Platform Committee, in Orlando, Fla. The platform now endorses a $15 minimum wage among other issues Sanders had been fighting for in his campaign.
“We have made enormous strides,” Sanders said in a release from his campaign. “Thanks to the millions of people across the country who got involved in the political process — many for the first time — we now have the most progressive platform in the history of the Democratic Party.”
On Saturday, Clinton’s campaign announced an expansion of her health care proposals that brings her closer to Sanders’ call for Medicare for all another key point the Vermont senator wanted.
“Hillary will pursue efforts to give Americans in every state in the country the choice of a public-option insurance plan, and to expand Medicare by allowing people 55 years or older to opt in while protecting the traditional Medicare program,” the campaign wrote in statement after the Orlando meetings.
Negotiations over the platform, Clinton’s health care announcement over the weekend and a college affordability announcement last week have been key in moving Sanders toward today’s expected endorsement.
Video used in this story is courtesy on Complex News
